Thank you all who have helped me reach my goal to raise $1000 for Barack Obama. I still need to raise $425 to hit my target. The attacks on Barack Obama are coming strong. Please do what you can to help get out the vote for him. You can contact me for organized events for canvassing in Tulsa which is the activity I am championing in the three prong Obama strategy.
1) Register Voters and GOTV
2) Help down ticket Democratic candidates
3) Grow the Grassroots
YES WE CAN!
I want to make one point of clarification in my VOTE FOR CHANGE report in that there are FIVE candidates running for House District 72 including: Elverez Allen, Christie Breedlove, Seneca Scott, Monroe Nichols and Jon Slater (pardon my misinformation below referring to District 71). My reference to Greg referring to Alvarez Allen yesterday was not an endorsement of that candidate on Greg's or my part.
We had a very successful VOTE FOR CHANGE kickoff event yesterday in Tulsa, OK at the Courthouse courtyard area. About 100 volunteers turned out, many of them from other cities in Oklahoma. David Phillips, VOTE FOR CHANGE Team Coordinator and Ken Byrd, Data Coordinator prepared packages for volunteers each one including 25 voter registration forms, information on voter registration laws and maps of Tulsa areas to be targeted. Ernestine Dillard opened the event with her incredible solo "God Bless America". It was awesome to hear her beautiful voice ring through downtown Tulsa. Senator Tom Adelson,keynote speaker and our Obama surrogate, is a national convention delegate for Senator Obama from Oklahoma. Martha Mattes, Volunteer Coordinator, really got the word out to the volunteers in attendance via email to Obama groups and Oklahoma pods of grassroot supporters. Greg Bledsoe, First District Vice Chair for the Oklahoma Democratic Party and Emmanuel Lewis trained volunteers on do's and don'ts for registering voters. Greg explained our srategy in targeting key Tulsa county districts where youth and African American voter registration is low. Greg reported the need for Democrats to vote in the upcoming Oklahoma Democratic primary on July 29 for candidates including Andrew Rice, Jim Roth, as well for one of the Democratic candidates running for State Representative in House District 72 - Elverez Allen, Christie Breedlove, Seneca Scott, Monroe Nichols and Jon Slater. One volunteer asked about the number of committed Oklahoma super delegates and Greg reported there are four pledged to Obama including Brad Henry, Kitty Asbury, Kalyn Free and Reggie Whitten. Calvin Rees spoke about the Democratic Veterans Committee and provided phone numbers to volunteers encouraging them to call Ivan Holmes 405-204-5902 and Jay Parmley 405-255-1291 today to pledge to Obama as both are uncommitted super delegates. Our awesome resource team including Mark Skinner, Victoria Marrs and Vance Reed worked together to sign in every volunteer and gave out VOTE FOR CHANGE stickers and we had plenty of food and beverages available. The results we hoped for in registering voters were achieved as we registered 50 people and most volunteers kept their packets to keep registering voters as we approach the general election. We are planning our next event as a celebration following the Democratic nomination. Local media representatives from KOTV - Channel 6 showed up as did reporters from La Semana and Hispano de Tulsa.
YES WE CAN!!
All -
Bring Him Home was a smashing success thanks to all of you for coming and donating to the Obama for America campaign. Carrie and I estimate we raised over $1000. Keep up the good work for Senator Obama and when he is our candidate, look for me along the campaign trail. Remember what Ernestine Dillard sang . . . "you'll be the wind beneath his wings!"
Thank you to everyone including Carrie Glenn, Ernestine Dillard, Donald Sullivan. Elaine Dodd and Gary Alison for sharing your talent and words with us!
Sounds bytes during this campaign about readiness "Day One" keep rerunning on the airwaves. I thnk energy and enthusiasm is what sets Senator Obama apart from the other Democratic presidential candidates. Barack's proven ability to organize communities, which I have also been successful doing in my own circle of influence, takes persistance and magnetic leadership to motivate others - hence his appeal to so many of us. He can bring out the best in Americans!
I borrowed this text from my friend who responded to my invite to vote for Senator Obama. She agrees with me that we ". . . need HONEST leadership--and not more business stooges (which we seem largely to have been afflicted with since the Reagan fiasco which . . . began the erosion of the presidency). I think the current man serving in that office may even be mentally/emotionally impaired (I've thought this for some time after seeing certain things) and I've come to doubt that he is even aware of what he is used for and it is a sad case. The end of his sad and frightful term will a blessing. But I don't think it will be easy for the new president to avoid 'falling under the wheels' and being chewed up. Thank heaven he has the vigor and energy of a younger man--as that will be needed. People think youth is a disadvantage---but I think it is a necessity at this time.
